Every year features the same basic theme throughout the NFL. Teams approach the draft with what they claim are best-available-athlete philosophies, only to wind up with so many Marcus Smiths instead.

Truth is, all teams draft for needs. It's just that some are more immediate.

Which brings us to the Philadelphia Eagles, whose perceived immediate needs don't necessarily outnumber the long-term ones but are so crucial that it is doubtful they'll be able to avoid taking a second straight step back under third-year coach Chip Kelly if they don't get most of them filled.

Keeping in mind this project is nowhere near completion, here's a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Eagles' roster following a series of radical re-shaping moves by Kelly in what is going down as perhaps the most fascinating offseason this franchise has ever had:

•Quarterback: Weakness. Sam Who? Yes, Sam Bradford showed immense promise under current E1agles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in 2010. But that was half a decade and two ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments ago. Back-to-back ACLs, by the way. On the same knee.

But don't believe the hype. The feeling here is that Bradford, who is still coveted by the Cleveland Browns and probably some other teams, is a means to an end that still could include Marcus Mariota but will definitely feature some type of young, mobile quarterback such as UCLA's Brett Hundley or even Robert Griffin III, should he be made available by the Washington Redskins. And whomever that young, mobile man turns out to be will be starting by the end of the 2015 season, if not opening day.

None of the quarterbacks on the roster now allow Kelly to open up every chapter of his playbook. It's been two years now. This can't and won't go on now that Kelly has complete control of personnel.

•Running back: Strength. Even after trading away the most productive back in team history for a third-year linebacker coming off of ... you guessed it, ACL surgery, the Eagles are still strong here, if not stronger, considering the one-cut style of prized free-agent addition DeMarco Murray and the way he fits Kelly's offense better than LeSean McCoy.

•Wide receiver: Weakness. But it could well be a strength by the time the season starts for a number of reasons.

First, second-year man Jordan Matthews is a rising star who could be ready to move from the slot, where he caught 67 passes for 872 yards and eight TDs, to the outside and make everyone forget about the loss of Jeremy Maclin to free agency.

Second, Kelly will be adding to this group in the draft, and this year's receiver crop is almost as fertile as last year's. They should be able to get a real good player in the second or even the third round if their scouts are on the ball, which is never a given with this team. For example, everyone is still trying to figure out the confusing initial report on outside linebacker Marcus Smith, their ill-advised, first-round pick from last year. More on him later.

Finally, Josh Huff, another second-year man, could be poised to break out in his second season after a mistake-prone rookie year. He has game-breaking ability. Unfortunately for the Eagles, that worked both ways last year.

•Offensive line: Strength. Yes, Kelly jettisoned starting guard Todd Herremans. But they will cover that hole up quickly, either with veteran Allen Barbre or through the draft. Still an excellent group that can get back to 2013 form with Murray now scheduled to get the bulk of the running snaps.

•Defensive line: Strength. End Fletcher Cox should have made the Pro Bowl. Nose tackles Bennie Logan and Beau Allen were solid and underrated, as was end Cedric Thornton, a restricted free agent who may not be back. But backup Vinny Curry, the most productive pass rusher of the group with 9 sacks, will be for sure.

•Linebacker: Strength. Added all kinds of depth inside, where Kelly felt the Eagles were burned last year with injuries to starters Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans and top backup Najee Goode, who missed the entire season. As of Wednesday, all were still here and healthy and joined by Kiko Alonso, acquired from Buffalo in a trade for McCoy, and Brad Jones, signed as a free agent from Green Bay.

Outside, they might not seem as strong as a year ago after cutting Trent Cole and his 6.5 sacks. But Travis Long is coming back healthy after going down for the season before it began last year. Add Pro Bowl selection Connor Barwin at the peak of his game on the other side of where Brandon Graham likely will start now, and there is some good potential.

As for Smith, anything he can give them is a bonus, but they began to condition themselves midway through last season not to count on anything.

•Secondary: Weakness. As it stands now, the prospective starting cornerbacks, Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond, are at best only marginally better than last year's combo of Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher. Nolan Carroll will compete to start too. But if he couldn't get a job on the outside by the end of last year, that doesn't bode well for either his skills or the coaches who evaluate those skills.

However, Kelly made some changes to the staff, bringing in Cory Undlin from the Denver Broncos to be the defensive backs coach and promoting Matthew Harper from special teams assistant to defensive backs assistant.

•Special teams: Strength. Best this league has seen in a long time, in fact. Last year, special teams accounted for a team-record seven TDs, which was a staggering 13 percent of their total.

If Kelly can come away from the draft with a competent safety and a receiver the caliber of Matthews, who was a second-round pick last year, he'll have a chance to win 10 or more games again.

Winning in the playoffs is a different matter. That's where the quarterback comes in.

For the Eagles to become contenders again, that weakness will have to become a strength.